FRANZ HALDER (1884–1972) German general and the chief of staff of the Army High Command (OKH) from 1938-1942. He directed the planning and implementation of Operation Barbarossa, the 1941 invasion of the Soviet Union. A historic military relic, Halder's personal cased Adler Model 37 typewriter, in largely functional condition, with which Halder drafted some of the most important dispatches and reports of World War II. The 14 x 14.5 x 5.75 in. machine is painted black with the maker's decals applied to the body. All keys appear to operate, though the carriage return and space bar do not. As this is a Heer typewriter, it is not entirely surprising that no 'SS' key is present. The typewriter rests upon green padding within a 15. 25 x 14.5 x 7 wood case with lock, the case unmarked. Halder would have used this type of typewriter in the field for both official and personal communications, some of which are no doubt included in this sale. Overall very good. As the operational architect of Germany’s early Blitzkrieg campaigns and the co-author of Operation Barbarossa, Halder was perhaps the most pivotal military strategist in Nazi Germany after Hitler himself. As Chief of the German Army General Staff (OKH/OKW) from 1938 to 1942, Halder was the central figure in developing and coordinating all military operations. This briefcase likely contained operational plans for Fall Gelb, Fall Rot, Operation Barbarossa, Case Blue, daily situation reports, intelligence assessments about Soviet, British, and French capabilities, correspondence with Hitler, Keitel, Jodl, and other top commanders, his war diary excerpts, and much more very sensitive and incredibly valuable information. A military relic of the first order.